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Mistakes

Mistakes are almost certain to be made in almost any activity. We often do not have enough information to be able to be completely sure of not making mistakes before we must take action. To risk such mistakes is not “wrong.”

It is incorrect to blame ourselves for such mistakes. (Often, however, other people can relax and respond better temporarily if we appear to “blame” ourselves so the other people do not get upset and defensive for fear that we will be “blaming” them.) It is usually useful to apologize for a mistake of our own. It is important that we ourselves label a mistake as a mistake and not defend it.

It is helpful to be “public” about being willing to examine our functioning and to correct mistakes as we make them. Such behavior will tend to greatly increase people’s trust in us.

Harvey Jackins

From page 84 of The List

(Present Time 189, October 2017)


Last modified: 2022-12-25 10:17:04+00